There is no focus in India on Rabies Vaccinations for dogs - the emphasis is on birth control

There is no rabies component in India’s only official rabies control programme. Prevention of human rabies deaths by post-bite vaccination of every person that is bitten, is not rabies control. 

While WHO mandates that at least 80 per cent of dogs need to be vaccinated annually to break the cycle of transmission of Rabies, only 2.4 per cent have been vaccinated by the Animal Welfare Board of India from 2008-2017.

The ABC programme, however, mandates that ownerless dogs be left back on the streets under no supervision – how such dogs are to be identified and accurately re-immunised annually has neither been defined nor ever been attempted by the AWBI. Neither the AWBI nor the ABC programme has ever mentioned any methodology for rabies control.

There is no legal mandate in India for anti-rabies vaccinations, which would shield street dogs from contracting rabies. Instead, ‘animal birth control’ — the mass sterilization of street dogs to ensure their long-term population decline — is the status quo solution. 

However, sterilized dogs can still bite people, passing on the virus to humans and other animals. The Union health ministry continues to subsidize extremely expensive post-bite treatment for patients. These expenses should instead be directed toward animal vaccination, which has proved to be around 100 times cheaper and more effective in Asia.

Delhi's first animal welfare policy does not refer to mass anti-rabies vaccination of street dogs. 

However, the 2021 National Action Plan for Dog-mediated Rabies Elimination mentioned that the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Government of India, is assisting State Governments for canine anti Rabies vaccination under ASCAD and RKVY Schemes.

The plan aims at systematic reduction of Rabies risk through sustained mass dog vaccinations, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis and public education until the country is completely free of dog-mediated Rabies.